MEN’S SKINCARE & GROOMING / ADVERTISING · CAMPAIGNS · EDITORIAL

View men’s portfolio ↗Approach & commissions ↓

Male grooming portrait with dark curls, light stubble and a white T-shirt in a bright bathroom.

Man raising his hand to his curly hair in a naturally lit bathroom portrait.

Side portrait of a man with dark curly hair and light stubble wearing a white T-shirt.

Close shaving detail showing a gold-coloured safety razor beside white shaving foam on dark skin.

Close detail of a shaving brush applying white lather to the cheek beside the lips.

Male skin portrait with bare shoulders and a geometric patch of light across a neutral wall.

Male portrait with closely cropped hair, visible skin texture and a tattooed shoulder.

Shirtless male portrait against a dark geometric wall with directional light across the face and torso.

Male grooming portrait with dark hair, a short beard and a pale pink shirt in a bathroom setting.

Male skin portrait with bare shoulders, sculpted hair and window shadows on the background.

Close male portrait with dark hair and stubble against a softly lit bathroom background.

Side portrait of a bearded man with natural textured hair and a white top against a dark background.

Sunlit male skincare portrait with eyes closed, short braided hair and a neutral knit top.

Male skin portrait with braided hair, bare shoulders and warm directional light.

Rear close-up of a man with closely cropped hair and his hands resting across the back of his neck.

Close male portrait with a wide smile, closed eyes and droplets of water on the face.

Close male grooming portrait showing light stubble, skin texture and defined facial features.

Male portrait with swept-back hair and warm, sculpted light across the face.

Video poster image of a man touching his curly hair while wearing a dark jacket against a neutral background.

Men’s grooming photography by Simon SonghurstDiscuss a campaign ↗

London · Italy · International commissions

Men’s grooming.
A considered image.

Simon Songhurst is a men’s skincare and grooming photographer working in London and internationally. He creates commercial imagery for advertising agencies, art buyers and brands developing men’s skincare, shaving, beard care and male grooming campaigns.

The portfolio brings together close shaving details, carefully lit skin, character-led male portraits and grooming imagery in bathroom settings. With 25 years of photographic experience, Simon approaches the brief through light, expression and the relationship between a person and a product.

Discuss a men’s grooming campaign ↗

Advertising photography for men’s grooming

A clear visual direction for your brand.

A men’s grooming campaign needs to communicate both the product and the person it is intended for. A precise shaving detail, a relaxed portrait or an application gesture each suggests a different relationship with the audience. The photographic direction should make that relationship clear while giving the brand a recognisable identity.

The work here moves between skin studies, beard and hair portraits, close details and wider campaign compositions. For a creative team, it offers a starting point for defining the right approach to a men’s care brief: what deserves emphasis, how the product will appear and which quality of light will support the idea.

Men’s skincare

Commercial photography briefs centred on male skin, facial care and the product experience. Portraits, application details and clean visual compositions can work together across a launch or an established collection.

Grooming campaigns

A considered photographic direction for shaving, beard care, hair styling and grooming tools. Close detail and a broader portrait can communicate different aspects of the same campaign idea.

Editorial commissions

Male grooming features, men’s beauty stories and editorial portraits for magazines and publishers. A coherent visual treatment gives the story its character and connects individual images across a sequence.

01 / Male skincare

Skin, texture and product application.

Men’s face washes, cleansers, moisturisers, serums, eye creams and facial SPF each suggest a different photographic brief. An application gesture can introduce the routine; a close portrait can place attention on skin; a wider image can establish the setting and the person behind it. The composition should be specific to the brand’s positioning.

For facial-care products marketed around hydration, sensitivity or age-related concerns, discuss the intended visual message and any substantiated claims separately. Photography can illustrate texture, use and the feeling of a routine. It should not imply clinical results or a treatment outcome that the brand cannot support.

02 / Shaving & beard care

Precision in the detail.

The shaving photographs in this portfolio place the viewer close to the action: the edge of a safety razor, the texture of shaving foam and a brush against the skin. Light needs to describe both the surface of the product and the skin around it, without losing the clarity of the gesture.

Campaign briefs may include razors, electric shavers, shaving brushes, shave cream, foam, gel, pre-shave oil and post-shave balm. Beard wash, beard oil, conditioning products, styling balms and trimmers bring a different emphasis to the hair and the shape of the beard. Product handling and the intended demonstration should be planned with the creative and production teams.

03 / Men’s hair & styling

Shape, finish and individuality.

Male haircare imagery can move from a clean portrait to a detailed study of a cut, a styling gesture or the finish of the hair. The portfolio includes natural curls, defined short styles, textured hair and closely cropped cuts, alongside portraits that consider beard and hairstyle together.

For men’s shampoo, conditioner, scalp-care products, pomade, styling clay, paste, gel or grooming tools, identify the detail that needs to read in the image. Matte texture and a polished finish ask for different lighting decisions. This page centres on male grooming campaigns; the dedicated hair advertising portfolio provides a broader view of the hair work.

04 / Oral care & the smile

A natural expression. A clear product story.

Oral-care advertising connects a product with an everyday gesture and a recognisable expression. Toothpaste, manual and electric toothbrushes, mouthwash, floss and interdental products can each form the basis of a commissioning brief, with close details or a more relaxed portrait used according to the campaign idea.

The expressive male portraits here offer a reference for character and expression. For an in-use oral-care demonstration, include the intended action, product visibility and layout. Any whitening, efficacy or dental-health claims remain a matter for the brand’s approved evidence and copy.

05 / Body care & grooming routines

A broader view of men’s care.

Men’s body wash, shower gel, deodorant, antiperspirant, body moisturiser and body-grooming products extend the brief beyond the face. A shoulder, a hand at the neck or the transition between light and shadow across the torso can provide a more specific composition than a generic lifestyle scene.

Bathroom and interior settings can give context to a routine, while studio photography allows a more controlled visual language. Casting, skin tone, age and personal style should reflect the audience of the brand rather than an assumed single idea of masculinity. The campaign can be direct, relaxed or highly structured without losing its photographic coherence.

06 / Campaigns & editorial

Planned for the finished placement.

Advertising photography needs to work where the audience will see it. Packaging, point-of-sale displays, retail panels, magazine advertising, outdoor campaigns and billboards have different requirements for composition, copy space and viewing distance. Website launches, paid social and digital display can form part of the same commissioning brief.

For editorial grooming stories, the image sequence and publication layout may set a different pace. A close shaving detail, a portrait and an atmospheric wider frame can provide variety within a consistent direction. Share the intended channels and layouts early so the photography is planned for the finished work rather than adapted after the fact.

Developing a men’s skincare launch, shaving campaign or male grooming feature?

Share your brief ↗

Commissioning a shoot

Creative direction and practical detail.

An advertising treatment, an editorial outline or an early product-launch brief can all begin the conversation. Include the brand positioning, audience, product range and visual references. Let Simon know about any casting, art direction, hair, makeup or production team already attached.

Outline the required images, proposed formats, location, shoot dates and budget range. For product demonstrations, include the intended application or handling. Usage territories, duration and media should be discussed alongside artwork dimensions, packaging layouts and any retouch requirements.

The creative brief

Brand identity, audience, casting and the product story. Include the desired skin, beard or hair finish, and whether the work should feel observational, polished or more graphic.

Production requirements

Dates, studio or location, product availability and the team involved. Identify any bathroom setting, water detail, grooming demonstration or specialist handling that needs planning.

Deliverables & usage

Image count, layouts, crop requirements, launch timing and media. Set out the territories and usage period for print, retail, packaging, out-of-home and digital placements.

Commissioning questions

What men’s grooming photography briefs can I discuss?

Men’s skincare, shaving and beard-care campaigns, male haircare, grooming tools and personal-care advertising. Oral-care, body-care and men’s grooming editorial briefs can also be discussed against the required images and intended usage.

Can I commission a shoot in London?

Yes. Simon works in London and internationally and is based between London and Italy. Share the proposed shoot location, dates and brief so production and travel requirements can be discussed.

What should an agency include in an initial enquiry?

Share the campaign concept, audience, product range, image count and proposed layouts. Shoot dates, location, budget range and intended usage will help define the scope alongside any casting or creative team already attached.

Where can I see the related portfolios?

Explore hair advertising photography for broader hair campaigns, skincare advertising photography for wider skin-care briefs, and creative beauty photography for editorial and artistic work.

Advertising & editorial commissions

Your next men’s grooming campaign.

For advertising agencies, art buyers, grooming brands and editors commissioning men’s skincare and personal-care imagery, contact Simon Songhurst with your brief or creative direction.

info@simonsonghurst.com ↗London · Italy · International commissions